The Role of Experimental Animal Models in Liver Transplantation Training Programs

Liver transplantation (LTx) is among the most technically challenging procedures in abdominal surgery, especially for patients with severe liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Constraints in surgical exposure, ethical considerations, and patient safety requirements have expedited the implementation of structured, competency-based training programs. Experimental animal models are crucial for advanced transplant training, offering physiological realism, procedural practice, and translational understanding of surgical problems associated with fibrosis. This narrative review critically synthesizes material from 1990 to 2024 sourced from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, concentrating on the pedagogical utilization of rodent, porcine, and non-human primate models. We explicitly associate each model with specified training objectives, evaluative assessment instruments, and the incorporation of contemporary simulation technologies. The review additionally contrasts global training norms and suggests a unified, hybrid architecture to enhance skill acquisition, ethical governance, and patient outcomes.